Gaseous pollutants from brick kiln industry decreased the growth, photosynthesis, and yield of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Abstract

Gaseous pollutant emissions from brick kiln industries deteriorate the current state of ambient air quality in Pakistan and worldwide. These gaseous pollutants affect the health of plants and may decrease plant growth and yield. A field experiment that was conducted to monitor the concentration of gaseous pollutants emitted mainly from brick kilns in the ambient air and associated impacts on the growth and physiological attributes of the two wheat (Triticum spp.) cultivars. Plants were grown at three sites, including control (Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, AARI), low pollution (LP) site (Small Estate Industry), and high pollution (HP) site (Sidar Bypass), of Faisalabad, Pakistan. Monitoring of ambient air pollution at experimental sites was carried out using the state-of-art ambient air analyzers. Plants were harvested after 120 days of germination and were analyzed for different growth attributes. Results showed that the hourly average concentration of gaseous air pollutants CO, NO2, SO2, and PM10 at HP site were significantly higher than the LP and control sites. Similarly, gaseous pollutants decreased plant height, straw and grain yield, photosynthesis and increased physical injury, and metal concentrations in the grains. However, wheat response toward gaseous pollutants did not differ between cultivars (Galaxy and 8173) studied. Overall, the results indicated that brick kiln emissions could reduce the performance of wheat grown in the soils around kilns and confirm the adverse impacts of pollutants on the growth, yield, and quality of the wheat.

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“…On the other hand, in semi-urban and some urban areas, the major sources of air pollution are the traditional small-scale and unorganized brick kiln industries. These units use a range of burnable materials as a source of fuel, such as coal, wood, oil, rubber tires, rice husk, rice straw, corncobs, and bagasse, etc., which results in a wide range of emissions into the atmosphere [31]. Similarly, vehicular and industrial emissions are the predominant sources of air pollution in urban areas and megacities.…”

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“…Total ozone column [66] From road sites and small scale industrial estate having brick kilns CO, NO 2 , SO 2 , and PM10 [13] From Pakistan including Punjab (Faisalabad, Lahore, Islamabad, Multan), Khyber Paktunkhwa (Peshawar), Sindh (Karachi), and Baluchistan (Quetta) from 2002 to 2012 NO 2 column [68] In total, 24 samples were collected from 24 randomly selected sites (having backgrounds of all types) with duration of 24 h per sample (thrice a week) from June to August 2010 NO x , SO x , and CO [69] From industries located on link roads to other neighboring cities of Faisalabad during pre-monsoon months June and July…”

“…Impacts of gaseous emissions from brick kilns on wheat ( Triticum spp.) cultivars were also monitored by Adrees et al in a field experiment conducted in Faisalabad. The concentrations of CO, NO 2 , and SO 2 were about 198, 223, and 235% more at high pollution (HP) sites than the control site.…”

“…[2,3] The effects of air pollution on human health range from minor ailments to major disorders such as asthma, leukemia, lung cancer, stroke, premature births and deaths. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] Similarly, air pollutants pose serious effects on the overall growth, crop yield, protein content, and productivity of plants, [13] including metal imbalances which cause detriments of vital metabolic processes. Gaseous pollutants such as SO 2 and NO 2 make their entry via stomatal openings and cause both acute and chronic injuries such as leaf necrosis and chlorosis.…”

“…Similarly, air pollutants pose serious effects on the overall growth, crop yield, protein content, and productivity of plants, including metal imbalances which cause detriments of vital metabolic processes. Gaseous pollutants such as SO 2 and NO 2 make their entry via stomatal openings and cause both acute and chronic injuries such as leaf necrosis and chlorosis.…”